Mcguire



Nov. 14, 1961 G. MCGUIRE Re- 25,078

SAFETY SWIMMING POOL COVER Original Filed May 7, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1eorge McGuire i'1N' INVENTOR.

9 BY @man- M15. fak.

Nov. 14, 1961 G. McGulRE Re. 25,078

SAFETY SWIMMING POOL COVER Original Filed May '7, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2George McGuire 1N VEN TOR.

BY aud...

United States Patent() This invention relates in general to accessoryitems for swimming pools and the like and pertains more particularly toa cover assembly therefor.

In addition to the fact that an open swimming pool tends to collect agreat deal of trash and foreign material, particularly during certainseasons of the year, an open pool presents a substantial hazardparticularlyr at night or when unattended and it is not unusual forpersons, particularly children, to accidentally fall into a pool anddrown. It is therefore of primary concern in connection with thisinvention to provide an assemblage for use in conjunction with -aswimming pool which will provide a cover therefor at any time sodesired, particularly when the pool is unattended.

Another object of this invention is to provide an assemblage of thecharacter defined which will be neat and pleasing in appearance bothwhen in use and when stored.

A `further object of this invention is to provide a cover assemblage fora swimming pool wherein the cooperation betweenthe various componentparts is such as tovprovide a very'eiiicient and eifective cover for aswimming pool and which will remain in substantially taut condition andwhich will be firmly engaged substantially completely around theperipheral portion thereof so as to positively prevent accidental entryinto a pool so covered.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved cover forswimming pools incorporating Ya pair of housing assemblies, located atopposite ends of a pool `mui each containing roller mechanisms forreeling therebetween a pair of parallel rope elements or cables, therope elements themselves carrying therebetween at intermediate portionsof their lengths a flexible cover element constructed of canvas or thelike, the roller mechanisms incorporating positive drive elements forreeling or winding a rope between one roller mechanism and the other.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision ofimprovements in swimming pool covers wherein the cover assemblage isneat and pleasing in appearance and wherein it includes mechanism ofsimple yet eicient construction. v

A further object of this invention is to provide a cover assembly forswimming pools including a pair of housings or chambers containingroller mechanisms therein for winding thereon a pair of spaced, parallelrope elements 'which extend therebetween and to feed the same back andforth between the roller mechanisms, the rope elements carryingtherebetween, at an intermediate portion of their lengths, a exiblecover assembly of an area yto completelyv cover an associated swimmingpool, and

there being located, on opposite sides of the swimming pool between the`roller mechanisms, guide elements for Re. 25,078 VReissues Nov. y14,1.961

like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a swimming pool showing the improvedcover assembly operatively associated therewith and disposed in coveringrelation thereto;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along theplane of section line 2 2 of FIG- URE l and illustrating details of thecover tank assembly and showing the operative association of partsdisposed therewithin;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantiallyalong theV plane of section line 3-3 of FIGURE l illustrating thedetails of the guide mechanisms and the association of the rope elementstherewith and illustrating the manner in 'which the cover assembly iscarried between the viiig'hts of the ropes;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along theplane of section line 4-4 in FIGURE 1 and illustrating the details ofthe internal construction of the rope tank assembly;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along theplane of section line 5-5 in FIGURE 2 illustrating further details ofthe internal construction of the cover tank assemblage and illustratingthe disposition of the limit switch disposed therewithin;

FIGURE k6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along theplane of section line 6-6in FIGURE `4 and showing further details of theinternal construction of the ropetank assemblage illustrating thedisposition of the limit switch therewithin;

' FIGURE 7`is a plan view of the drive mechanism associated with thecover and rope tanks and illustrating, in

receiving and containing therewithin portions of the" ropes as they arepayed between the roller mechanisms and so as to hold the iiexiblecover, when in operative position intaut relationship over an associatedswimming pool.

These together with other objects and advantages which 'will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein Adotted lines, the tie-clutched position of the driving motor; FIGURE 8is an enlarged view of an edge portion of the cover` vassembly andillustrating the manner in which the rope and the cover areinterconnected; and

FIGURE 9`is an enlargedy section taken substantially along the plane ofsection line 9-9 in FIGURE 4 and showing details of the brake-pawlmechanism.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE l, reference numerals 10 and11 indicate the side walls portions of a swimming pool or, moreaccurately the apron portions along the opposite sides of a pool. InFIGURE 1, the invention is shown in operative association with the pooland in covering relationship thereto. The cover assembly is indicatedgenerally by the reference character 12 and consists essentially of aflexible sheet of canvas 13 or other similar material mounted in amanner hereinafter described to be disposed in taut coveringrelationship to the pool lying therebeneath, the cover in FIGURE 1 beingpartly broken away to indicate the body of water 14' beneath the coverassembly.

Essentially, the cover assemblage includes a pair of tank elements orchamber assemblies indicated generally by the reference characters 13and 14 and 'being respectivelyfor the purpose of housing the cover whennot in use and for housing the rope mechanism for operating thecoverwhen the device is in use. For the purpose of holding the cover tautfrom side to side of the swimming pool,` guide assemblies indicatedgenerally by the reference characters 15 and 16 are rigidly affixed tothe apron portions 10 and 111 previously described, the

.'toV FIGURE 2 wherein the cover tank or chamber assembly is moreclearly shown and, in conjunction therewith, FIGURE 5, it will be seenthat Ythe cover assembly -13 includes a pair of opposite side walls 20and 21 interconnected at their upper ends by a top wall member 22 andhaving"r mounting bracket elements 23 and 24 along the bottom edges ofthe walls 20 and 21 respectively for securing the cover assembly to thestructure adjacent the pool.

and'to' prevent injury "by contact therewith,'the same is' provided with-a cushion 25 consisting of an outer envelope 26 containing a filler ofsoft resilient .material 21, such 'as vsponge 'rubber Ynr 'theli'ke,.the `material of the cover 26 being so chosen as to lend ankattractive appearance to ythe cover assembly. "It will be #readily'apprecith-at "the tanks, when so `Acoveredwi-th theassemblages 25,Vwill provide convenient bench portions.

The opposite ends of the .tank assembly 13 are closed bythe fend wall'members 30 and V31soastoprovide a 'confined space lvtherewith. Withinvthe'ztank 1-3 are a pair ofpedestals 32 and 33 mounting the pillowblock assemblies indicated generally by lthe 'reference characters' 34and 35 "which, in vturn Vrotatably journal the shaft portions 36 'and'37 integral' with the roller'element 38 disposed between the pillowblock assemblies. The 4shaft portion 36 carries, 'outboard 'of'the.pillow block `assembly 34, a anged "pulley 'or wheel '39 lhavingoperative Aa'ssooziiationwith a driving motor 40, hereinafter .moreAfully described.

As can be seen most clearlyfrom FIGURES 4 and 6, the rope tank 14 isconstructed similarly to the cover tank '13. 'Th-at is to say, the ropetank includes the side wall portions 4S and 46,` the :top wall '47 andthe mounting 'bracket portions 48 and 49 as well .as the end walls 50and 51, forming a chamber or enclosure therewithin. Likewise, the ropetank is provided with pedestals "52 and 53mount`in'g the pillow blocks54 and 55 therewithin whichjournal the shaft portions '56 and 57lcarrying therebetween-the roller element S8. The shaft rpor-tion' 57has rigidly afxed thereto a anged'wheel "59 having oper-ative1association with the .driving motor .60,"hereinafter moreV fullydescribed.

To carry the Vcover element '137, 'thereJis jprovidedla Ipair o'f ropes61 `and't'2 which extend 'between :the tanks 13 and -1`4 and areaffixed, at their VOpposite ends, respectively, to the rollers v38 and58. Intermediate "portions of the rope, as is 'seen most clearly inFIGURESS and -8, r`have rigidlyaxed thereto the dou-bled' over edgeportions 63 and -64 Iat the .opposite sides 'ofthe cover member 13,there `being suitable stitching, fasteners or 'thelike 65 and :66serving this purpose.

The mounting for the drive motors 40 and 60 and the `cooperationtherewith with the respective wheels 39 and 59 is identical and for thisreasona descriptionlwith .reference to 4FIGURE-4 only will vbe provided.In FIG- URE 4, it will be noted that the rope tank'shown thereinincludes a further-pedestal v70 vmounting the driving motor y60 thereon.The driving motor includes abase`71which is pivoted by means of anelement '72, see particularly FIGURE' 7. to -thevpedestal 70, so astorperm'it swinging of the driving motor 60betwe`en 'the full `anddottedline positions .illustrated in FIGURE 7. v

The base of :the motor is ,provided with an ear73 having yan aperture74therein to which one en'd of atension spring 75 is attached, theopposite end ofthe spring being fixed `to an ear 76 rigid with thepedestal A"70 .and the spring is so-connected to 'the motor as tonormally pull nthe same out of engagement with the angevportion 77 ofthe associated wheel A59. 'Th'atis to say, thenormal position of themotor is in the dotted`line positionillustrated in .FIGURE 7, whereinthe drive element 78 on `the shaft 79.f the motor uwill be out ofengagement with [the inner surfaceof the' ilange`77 andthe Whee1'59. Inorder -to establish contact between-the drive element 78 `and theinnersuace .of .the 'flange 77 a solenoid indicated generally .by thereference character 80 is provided. ll'he solenoid caseY f81 is mounteddirestly tothe pedestal l'l0 with .the armature 82 extending therefromand being connected `as byv pin '83 working in an elongate slot 85 whichis connected to the motor. vWhen the-,solenoid 80 is excited, thearmature 82 is urgedinto rthe casing 81 so as to swing themotor againstthe action of the tension spring"75 so as Vto engage the drive element78 with the inner surface of the flange 4'77 'of the wheel 59.Simultaneously with the actuation of the "solenoid`80, the'el'd of'themotortitl is excitedand'drive is imparted to the wheel 59 tofrotatethe shaft 57 and consequently the roller 58 is Ia correspondingdirection. It will be appreciated .that a suitable vcontrol button isprovided for initially actuating the .solenoid landthe. associated.drive motor 60. The operation vof thedrriveamotors 40 and 60y is suchas :to cause actuationofthe asso'- cilated rollers for moving the'assemblage in opposite `directions, -as is necessary and desired.

The rope -tank contains ,elements not 4provided in the cover tankIassembly and included in drivemechanism therefor. Theseadditionalelements are the ratchet wheel fixed to the outboard end ofthe shaft ,portiony56 and the solenoid 91 mounted above such ratchetwheel and including an armature portion 92 -engageable with the ratchetwheel 90'. The pawl and 'ratchet mechanism aords a brake for the roller58 -as will be more zfully described hereinafter. I Further, each tankassembly -13 and 14 includesv the 'tubular guide elements l93 `and. 94as is most'speciiically shown in FIGURE 5, the construct-ion of eachtank being identical in this respect. Thesetubular 'elements 93ua11d""94 are split longitudinally and are engaged over the opposed wallportions -95 -andf9`6 as 'illustrated in FIG- URE 5 land 'are disposedin slightly spaced relationship to 'each other to prov-ide curved -andsmooth edges'ffor engagement with the ropes or cables-61 'and62 -andwith the cover assembly 1-3'. Additionally, eachv tank assembly has alimit vswitch-97 'mounted therewthin including an actuating' yllinger`98disposed in -the path Vvof movement of the cover element 13 vand betweenthe ropes 61 and-62 such that when the cover engages therewith, 'thef'iinger 98 will be actuated.

The previously mentionedwguide strips lI0 and 111 are shown most clearlyin FIGURE 3 and each vincludes a base portion y10|) which 'is vaixed vas`by fasteners'lli `and 102 to'thevaprons or sides'10 and 11 of the-pool.'-On'the .are of a dimension yless than the diameteroftheropes 61 and 62-to Vprevent the ropes'from pulling therethrough. Fromithisconstruction, itwill be readily appreciated that the cover 13' istherebyheld in'tautfrelationship from side to side of the tool/whereas 'therollerassemblies 38 'and58 maintainthe longitudinal tautness ofithecover assembly whenit is'in use.

'In theoperation of the device, assuming thatthez'eover is rolled upwithin the Vcover tank 13,'the-controls Iare manipulated so as to"operate the-drivingm'otor 5601for Vthe rope tank lwhich will rotatevthe roller V58 iin-such Ydirection as to windthe `rope-thereon Jand upon`the spools '110 and "111 lixed rto such roller-sis illustrated mostclearly in FIGURES 4 andf'6. Once having'been actuated, the motor 60,-when'the:solenoid'sfswingsinto engaged position with the wvhe'el '559,l'will `continue Vto actuate the rroller and therspoolsfll) andllllAuntil such time Vas the limit switchlflhas its-actuating'finger 1-'13engaged by the cover 13 asis illustrated LAinF-IGURE v'-6. This willbreak the vcircuit tolthe"clrivemotor 60fand Sto the solenoid 80to'interrupt operation ofv-theedrive. The

y'solenoid 91 is also in `circuitwith the=motor60 so as'lto motor 40will continue to operate -untilvsuch time Vasi-the limit switch 97 is=actuated by `vthe-cover 113' 'by-release of the nger 98 from engagementwith the cover after the same has been completely rolled upon'the roller38,

"which action 'breaks'the circuit tof-the `dri'v'ingmotor =40 and ceasesoperation thereof.y Thesolenoid 91 is also 'in circuit with the'niotor40st as 'tobewithdrawn'upon actuation thereof.

I'he foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A safety swimming pool cover assembly comprising a pair of windingelements adapted to be disposed at opposite ends of a swimming pool andhaving a cover assemblage operatively connected therebetween, drivemeans for paying the cover assemblage back and forth between saidwinding elements between operative and inoperative positions withrespect to the swimming pool, comprising a pair of pivotally mountedelectric motors related to said winding elements respectively, and eachswinga-ble in opposite directions respectively, a friction drive betweeneach motor and its related winding element rendered eective andineffective in response to swinging of the motor in opposite directions,spring means for swinging each motor in one direction, andelectromagnetic means yfor swinging each motor in the oppositedirection.

'2. 'I'he combination of claim 1 including switch means operative bywiping engagement with said cover assem- -bly to control saidelectromagnetic means.

3. The combination of claim 1 including a ratchet wheel securedcoaxially to one of said winding elements, a solenoid having an armatureengaged with said ratchet wheel whereby to prevent rotation of saidwinding elements until said solenoid is energized, means energizing saidsolenoid for withdrawing said armature from said ratchet wheel wheneither of said motors is rendered eective for driving its associatedwinding element.

4. A safety swimming pool cover assembly comprising horizontallydisposed winding elements adapted to be disposed at ends of swimmingpools and having connected thereto for winding thereon a cover ofsuicient length and width to completely cover a pool with which it is tobe operatively associated, said winding elements causing positivemovement in each direction selectively of said cover from an operativeposition in which said cover completely covers the swimming pool to aninoperative position in which the cover is wound up within said windingelements for storage and uncovers the swimming pool, horizontallydisposed guide means adapted to be positioned along opposite sides ofthe swimming pool, said cover having marginal side edges secured t0 saidguide means and freely slidably movable therealong when said cover ismoved by said winding elements, said guide means having continuous,uninterrupted contact with the entire length of that portion of saidmarginal side edges which are disposed therebetween and so disposed asto cause said cover to completely cover the width of the swimming pool,drive means including a friction drum means drivingly secured coaxiallyto said winding elements, electric motor means movably mounted adjacentsaid friction drum means for movement into and out of operative drivingengagement therewith, means for moving said motor means out of saiddriving engagement and means for moving said motor means into saiddriving engagement, control means connected to said motor means andactuated by said cover when in said operative and inoperative positionsfor selectively actuating said moving means.

5. A safety swimming pool cover assembly comprising, storage windingmeans adapted to be disposed at a swimming pool end, a cover having sideedges and being connected to said storage winding means to be unwound orwound up therein and enclosed thereby, guide means adapted to bedisposed along opposite sides of said pool, means secured along theentire side edges of said cover and cooperating with said guide means tomaintain said cover taut between its side edges, drive means connectedto said storage winding means, means for deenergizing said drive meansfor engagement of said cover therewith and means for mechanicallydisconnecting said drive means from the storage winding means when thedrive means is de-energized, said winding means including power meansdirectly connected to a drum and rotatably mounted within a storagehousing, said means disposed along the side edges of said covercomprising flexible means fastened to said cover edges for maintainingthe cover taut and imparting movement thereto, said drum having pulleymeans at opposite ends thereof for winding or unwinding said flexiblemeans thereon and a separate intermediate portion for receiving thecover thereon, said mechanical disconnect means including meansdisplaceably mounted within said housing operative to drivinglydisconnect the power means from the drum in response to cessation ofunwinding of the cover from the drum.

References Cited in the tile of this patent or the original patentUNITED STATES PATENTS 1,238,360 Surber Aug. 28, 1917 1,585,270 StevensonMay 18, 1926 2,084,733 Kahliff June 22, 1937 2,140,220 Colvin Dec. 13,1938 2,668,586 Luckie Feb. 9, 1954 2,754,899 Karobonik et al. July 17,1956 2,755,081 Johnson et al. July 17, 1956 2,844,196 Jones July k22,1958

